Is spotting two days before a period abnormal?

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Quick Answer

According to MedGuidance.com, spotting a day or two before a period is a normal occurrence in women. Spotting before a period sometimes means that a woman is ovulating or that a fertilized egg has implanted in her uterus.

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MedGuidance.com says that women who are on birth control sometimes experience spotting before their period as well. It is also common in adolescents who are starting to menstruate. However, spotting more than two days before a period is sometimes an indication of another more serious condition such as low hormonal levels, cancer or uterine fibroids. The color of the blood spotting before a period varies in color and can be dark brown, brown, dark red or pink.

Related Questions

The most important role of progesterone is to help ready the lining of the uterus wall for the impending implantation of a fertilized egg, according to WebMD. It is produced by the ovaries when an egg is released and also by the placenta during the last two trimesters of pregnancy.

Stress plays a large role in irregular or missed periods in many women, according to Everyday Health. Stress suppresses the function of the hypothalamus, which controls the pituitary gland, and disturbances to the pituitary gland can cause disruption in the thyroid and adrenal glands, which control the menstrual cycle and hormone management. Because of this, both good and bad stresses can have a negative effect on the period, causing it to stop.

A woman who experiences two periods in one month may be reacting to a medication, have thyroid imbalances such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, or suffer from uterine polyps or fibroids, according to EmpowHER. Extreme weight fluctuations and excessive stress can also cause complications with a woman's menstrual cycle.